Velocipede



Jan. 8, 1935. c o 1,987,404

vE Loc IPEDE Original Filed April 1, 1932 2 Sheets Sheet l FIG. no.3

ALFRED C. KORTE INVENTOR ATTORNEY A. C. KORTE VELOCIPEDE Jan. 8, 1935.

Original Filed April l, 1932 2 Slwets-She'et 2 FIG ALFRED C. KORTE A TTORNEY Patented Jar 1.8, 1935 UNITED STATES PA'lENT' OFFICE of Missouri Original application April 1, 1932, Serial No. 602,620. Divided and this application June 4, 1934, Serial No. 728,823

' 31 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and more particularly to improve-- ments in the front forks, handle bars and steering posts of velocipedes of a design adaptable to being formed of sheet metal. This application is a division of my copending application #602,620,

filed April 1, 1932 which resulted in Patent No.

and unsightly. Stronger and lighter construe tions were also made by using tubular frame work, but such constructions are expensive and not entirely satisfactory.

It is an object of this invention to provide a generally new and improved front .fork, handle bar and steering post for a velocipede in which each part will be specially designed for the purpose for which it is intended with a view of producing a vehicle having the lightest possible weight consistent with the required strength, most attractive appearance, and greatest possible convenience in manufacturing.

It is a further object of this invention to pro vide a new and improved front fork, handle bar and steering post which may be constructed almost entirely from sheet metal formed and pressed to the proper shapes and sizes.

Other objects will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the front end of a velocipede according to one form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing a side elevation of the forward portion of the velocipede frame and front fork assembly with parts shown in section and others broken away.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the fork.

Figure. 5 is a rear elevation of the fork.

Figure 6 is a plan View of the handle-bar.

Figure 7 is a front view of the handle-bar.

Figure 8 is a side view of the handle-bar.

Figure 9 is an inverted plan view showing the central portion of the handle-bar, with dotted lines indicating the position of the steering post.

Figure 10 is a side view of the upper steering post.

. post.

Figure 12 is an inverted plan view of the upper steering post.

Figure 13 is a transverse section through the steering post taken along the line 13-13 of Figure 10.

Figure .14 is a transverse section through the steering post taken along the lines 14-14 of Figure 10.

Figure 15 shows a cross section of the steering post and the upper portionof the fork taken along the line 15-15 of Figure 10.

The reference numeral 1 indicates the saddle bar which forms the frame of the velocipede. It is preferably formed as a stamping from a single piece of sheet metal and is of inverted U or V shaped section. Flanges 2 are provided to receive an inverted channel shaped floor plate or lower steering post bearing member 3. Upon assembly the flanges 2 are crimped to secure the floor piece 3.

The fork 11 is formed from a single piece of sheet metal of a substantially inverted U or V shape, the sides of the U or V extending downwardly on either side of the wheel 19. The ends of the fork are slotted to receive the front axle 43 after'which the ends of each fork are closed as at 65 to hold the axle in place. The metal from the slot is bent at a right angle to the sides of the fork as at 75 to form a support for the axle. The fork 11 is provided-with a tubular and forked lower steering post 13 which is attached to the fork by spot welding or other suitable means as indicated at 14 in Figure 5, if desired, in some constructions the lower'steering post 13 may be made integral with the fork 11.

The lower steering post 13 extends into the lower end of the tubular formed uppersteering post 12 as indicated in Figure 3. The lower end of the uppersteering post 12 and the upper end of the lower steering post 13 of the fork 11 are pivotally mounted in separate bearings 25 and 26, respectively, bearing 25 being formed as a downwardly extending flange in the frame 1 and bearing 26 being formed as an upwardly extending flange in the fioor piece 3.

From Figure 3 it will be noticed that the bearing 26 is of smaller diameter than the lower end of the upper steering post 12, thus forming a lower thrust bearing for the handle bar assembly as indicated at 27. It will also be noted that the member 26 is so formed as to act as an upper thrust bearing for the upper part of the fork 11 or the lower part of thetubular portion 13 as at 69.

An important feature of the invention is the construction and assembly of the upper and lower steering posts 12 and 13. Both of these members are made from sheet metal, and the lower steering post 13 is formed with a slot 15 which, together with a wider cut-away portion 28, forms substantially an inverted T slot. The rotation of the fork 11 with respect to the upper steering post 12 is prevented by reason of keyway 15, as indicated in Figure 3, and inturned flanges or lugs 16 forming a key.

The upper steering post is formed of sheet metal, tubular in shape with a head portion 38 flared and formed on a radius in such a manner as to curve forwardly and upwardly, spreading into a substantially flat horizontal portion 50 at the upper end as in Figures 9 and 10. It will be noted further that the forward side 51 and lateral sides 52 are curled downwardly to provide strength and better appearance. The width of the head portion is several times that of the diameter of the tubular portion as shown in Figure 11. The purpose of this width being to provide strength and also to allow the stamping of the entire tubular portion and head portion from a single sheet of metal.

The head portion is so formed and at such an angle with the tubular portion 12 as to' snugly fit .the lower side of the handle bar 29 and to rigidly hold. the handle bar in position when fitted to the head portion at the proper angle to the velocipede. The lower steering post 13 is telescoped into the upper steering post 12 and the adjacent edges 16 of the tubular portion of the upper steering post are turnedinwardly together, as indicated in Figure 14, to form a key snugly fitting into the slot 15 and thereby preventing rotational movement of the upper and lower steering posts with respect to each other. Spaced slits 40 are cut near the lower end of the upper steering post to form a pair of lugs 17 at a point where they may be reached by a tool extended through the opening 18, to bend the lugs inwardly into the slot 28 for the purpose of permanently assembling the upper and lower steering posts in position, and preventing longitudinal separation of the two members. It is understood that the slot may be provided in either the upper or lower steering post and the key in the other.

In forming the upper steering post, tongues and slots, as indicated at 41 in Figure 14. are cut to strengthen the member against twisting forces.

The position of lugs 16 after being forced into the opening 28 is indicated in Figure 14. Access to these lugs during assembly is made possible by holes 18 in floor plate 3, as indicated in Figure 3.

Handle-bar 29 is formed from a single piece of sheet metal having tubular formed ends, as indicated at 30, to provide for the mounting of rubber hand grips. Lugs 31 integral with the handle bar form a means of rigidly affixing it to the upper end or head portion 38 of upper steering post 12, as indicated in Figure 8. The handle bar may be secured to the steering post by other means than the lugs 31, such as spot welding. The handle bar is, generally speaking, of inverted U section, but the section at the cen ter is substantially widened and deepened, partly for the purpose of setting the handle bar forward, and partly for greater strength at the center where it is needed. The underside of the A, central widened portion of the handle bar is so formed as to snugly fit the upper side of in place.

I claim:

1. A handle bar for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member having a convex upper surface and downwardly turned sides, said handle bar being substantially wider at the center than at the sides, and one or more lugs formed at said central portion, said lugs being adapted to be crimped over for the purpose of attaching the handle bar to the steering post.

2. In combination, a sheet metal handle bar and a sheet metal steering post, said handle bar comprising a comparatively wide central portion having integral lugs for engaging said steering post, the arms of said handle bar being of substantially inverted U section.

3. In combination, a sheet metal handle bar and a sheet metal steering post, said handle bar comprising a comparatively wide central portion having integral lugs for engaging said steering .post, the arms of said handle bar being of substantially inverted U section, said steering post comprising a tubular lower portion and an enlarged and substantially horizontal upper portion contacting with the lower side of the central portion of said handle bar.

4; A front fork for velocipedes comprising a fork formed from a single sheet of metal, a lower steering post also formed from sheet metal and having forked portions paralleling and attached to the sides of the first named fork, said steering post having an integral tubular formation at the upper end thereof for the reception of an upper steering post.

5. A front fork for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member of substantially inverted U shape, each of the sides of the U being adapted to extend downwardly at one side of the front wheel of the velocipede and attached to the axle thereof, and a tubular member extending upwardly from the U shaped member, the lower end of the tubular member being welded to the inverted U shaped member.

6. A front fork for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member of substantially inverted U shape, each of the sides of the U being adapted to extend downwardly at one side of the front wheel of the velocipede and attached to the axle thereof, and a tubular member extending upwardly from the U shaped member, the lower end of the tubular member being welded to the inverted U shaped member, said tubular member being formed of sheet metal curled into cylindrical formation, and a portion of the upper end of said tubular member being cut away to form a vertical slit or keyway.

7. A front fork for velocipedes comprising a fork formed from a single sheet of metal, a lower steering post also formed from sheet metal and having forked portions paralleling and attached to the sides of the first named fork, said steering post having an integral tubular formation at the upper end thereof, and a downwardly extending slot in said tubular portion.

8. A front fork for velocipedes comprising a fork formed from a single sheet of metal, a lower steering post-also formed from sheet metal and having forked portions paralleling and attached to the sides of the first named fork, said steering post having an integral tubular formation at the upper end thereof adapted to receive an upper steering post, a downwardly extending slot in said tubular formation, and a cross slot in said tubular portion below said first named slot.

9. A front fork for velocipedes comprising a fork member formed from a single sheet of metal,

a lower steering post also formed from a single sheet of metal, the lower end of said lower steering post being welded to said fork member, and the upper end of said lower steering post being adapted to be secured to an upper steering post and being provided'with a vertical slot to serve as a keyway.

10. A sheet metal upper steering post for velocipedes comprising a lower end portion curled into a tubular form,'and an upper end portion curving forwardly and upwardly and spreading into a substantially horizontal-portion at the upper end.

11. A sheet metal upper steering post for velocipedes comprising a lower end portion curled into a tubular form, and an upper end portion curving forwardly and upwardly and spreading into a substantially horizontal portion at the upper end, said substantially horizontal portion having its forward edge curled, and its lateral edges turned downwardly.

12. An upper steering post for a my vehicle comprising a sheet metal post member having its lower end curled into a cylindrical formation and its upper end extending forwardly and upwardly and spreading into a substantially horizontal portion having a width more than twice as great as the diameter of the cylindrical portion.

13. An upper steering post for a toy vehicle comprising a sheet metal post member having its lower end curled into a cylindrical formation and its upper end extending forwardly and upwardly and spreading into a substantially horizontal portion having a width more than twice as great as the diameter of the cylindrical portion, the forward edge of the horizontal portion being curled downwardly and adapted to conform and be attached to a handle bar.

14. An upper steering post for velocipedes comprising a tubular lower portion and a forwardly and upwardly extending upper portion, the width of the upper end being more than twice the diameter of the tubular portion, said steering post being formed integrally from a single piece of sheet metal, an integral part of the tubular portion of the-post being bent inwardly to form a key.

15. A steering post comprising a member formed from a single sheet of metal and having a tubular. portion formed by curling parallel edges of the metal together and an enlarged outwardly extending portion at one end of said tubular portion (for attachment to a handle bar, the adjacent edges of themetal forming the tubular portion being turned inwardly at their points of contact to form a key. v

16. A steering post comprising a member formed from a single sheet of metal and having a tubular portion formed by curling parallel edges of the metal together and an enlarged outwardly extending portion at one end of said tubular portion for attachment to a handle bar, the adjacent edges of the metal forming the tubular portion being turned inwardly at their points of contact to form a key, and one or more tongue and slot formations in the adjacent edges of the metal forming said tubular portion.

1'7. A steering post for velocipedes comprising telescoped upper and lower sections, each section being formed of sheet metal curled into tubular shape; one of said sections being provided with a slot, and a part of the sheet metal forming the other section being bent into the form of a key extending into said slot, said key and slot serving to prevent relative rotational movement of the two sections.

18. A steering post assembly for velocipedes comprising telescoped upper and lower sections, each section being formed of sheet metal curler. into tubular shape, one of said. sections being provided with a slot, and a part of the sheet metal forming the other section being bent into the form of 'a key extending into said slot, said key and slot serving to prevent relative rotational movement of the two sections, said sections having registering'openings therein, and a member extending through said openings to prevent longitudinal separation of said sections.

19. A steering post assembly for velocipedes comprising telescoped upper and lower sections, each section formed of sheet metal curled at one end into tubular shape,.one of said sections being provided with a longitudinal slot at one end, the other section being provided with an integral key extending into said slot, the upper end of the upper section being spread into an attaching portion having a width more than twice as great as the diameter of the tubular portion.

20. A steering post assembly for velocipedes comprising telescoped upper and lower sections,

each section formed of sheet metal curled at one end into tubular shape, one of said sections being provided with a longitudinal slot at one end, the other section being provided with an integral key extending into said slot, the upper end of the upper section being spread into an attaching portion having a width more than twice as great as the diameter of the tubular portion, and a handle bar attached to said attaching portion.

21. A steering post assembly for velocipedes comprising telescoped upper and lower sections, each section formed of sheet metal curled at one end into tubular shape, one of said sections being provided with a longitudinal slot at one end, the other section being provided with an integral key extending into said slot, the upper end of the upper section being spread into an attaching portion having a width more than twice as great as the diameter of the tubular portion, and a fork member attached to said lower section.

22. A steering post assembly for velocipedes comprising telescoped upper and lower sections, each section formed of sheet metal curled at one end into tubular shape, one of said sectionsbeing provided with a longitudinal slot at one end, the other section being provided with an integral key extending into said slot, the upper end of the upper section being spread-into an attaching portion having a width more than twice as great as the diameter of the tubular portion, a sheet metal fork member attached to said lower section, and a sheet metal handle bar attached to said upper section.

23. A front fork and steering post assembly for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal upper steering post having its upper end formed to a shape suitable for attachment to a handle bar and its lower end curled into tubular shape, a lower steering post member formed of sheet metal and having its upper end curled into tubular shape and telescoped into the tubular portion of said upper steering post member, the lower end of said lower steering post member being attached to a fork member, the lower end of said upper steering post member and the upper part of said fork member respectively forming upper and lower thrust bearing surfaces adapted to take the thrust of the bearing in the saddle bar of the velocipede in which the assembly is adapted to be mounted.

24. A handle bar for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member having a convex upper surface and downwardly turned sides, said handle bar being substantially wider at the center than at the sides, said downwardly turned sides being formed with portions which are adapted to be crimped over for the purpose of attaching the handle bar to the steering post.

25. In combination, a sheet metal handle bar and a sheet metal steering post, said handle bar comprising a comparatively wide central portion having turned over edges for engaging said steering post, portions of the arms of said handle bar being of substantially inverted U section.

26. In combination, a sheet metal handle bar and a sheet metal steering post, said handle bar comprising a comparatively wide central portion having integral turned over portions retaining said steering post in assembled relation therewith, portions of the arms of said handle bar being of substantially inverted U section, said steering post comprising a tubular lower portion and an outwardly spreading upper portion contacting with the lower side of the central portion of said handle bar.

2'7. A front fork for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member of substantially inverted U shape, "each of the sides of the U being adapted to extend downwardly at one side of the front wheel of the velocipede and attached to the axle thereof, and a tubular member extending upwardly from the U shaped member the lower end of the tubular member being secured to the in-' verted U shaped member, said tubular member being formed of sheet metal curled into cylindrical formation, and a portion of the upper end of said tubular member being cut away to form a vertical slit or keyway.

28. A front fork for velocipedes comprising a sheet metal member of substantially inverted U shape, each of the sides of the U being adapted to extend downwardly at ane side of the front wheel of the velocipede and attached to the axle thereof, and a tubular member extending upwardly from the U shaped member, the lower end of the tubular member being secured to the inverted U shaped member and a portion of the upper end of the said tubular member being cut away to form a vertical slit or keyway.

29. A front fork for velocipedes comprising a fork formed from a single sheet of metal, and a lower steering post having forked portions paralleling and attached to the sides of the first named fork, said steering post having a tubular formation at the upper end thereof, said tubular portion having an opening therein adapted to receive securing means whereby the steering post may be secured to operating means.

30. A sheet metal upper steering post for velocipedes comprising a lower end portion curled into a tubular form and an upper end portion of substantially U section having parts extending laterally of the vertical tubular portion.

31. In combination a sheet metal handle bar and a sheet metal steering post, said handle bar comprising a portion having a substantial width in fore and aft directions, the fore and aft edges of the handle bar being curved downwardly, at least one of the edges being provided with a lug portion, said steering post being formed of sheet metal and comprising a tubular lower portion and an outwardly spreading upper portion,

said upper portion having an edge conforming to and supporting the lower side of the handle bar, said lug portion being crimped over the upper portion of the steering post to hold the handle bar and steering post rigidly in assembled relation.

ALFRED C. KORTE. 

